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Departures

Synopsis

Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature – as an undertaker’s assistant.

Fourth watch of March around the World: Japan. Why does everybody in this film eat in such a disgusting manner? Or is that something Japanese? Departures feels like entry level Asian cinema; the sort of movie you’d recommend to one of your friends who just started digging the first layers of serious film watching and who asks you to give him some titles with which he may commence his journey. That positions is also resembled in the absurdly high IMDb-score for Departures, whilst most Letterboxd-users will certainly agree with me that the rich world of Asian cinema has plenty of better gems to offer than this light-hearted experience. Personally, I think it is too longwinded and lacking in scenes that leave much impression. It’s typical, and a pity, that this is one of the few Asian films that has managed to win an Oscar.

The postmortem is wholly conclusive and far from a pretty one. Loved ones may want to leave the room. Those that wish to stay please feel free to leave your messages of condolence below along with any respects you wish to pay. It would be nice to reflect upon a quick passing, a painless death onto a better place. But in a time of grief such as this, hiding the truth will hinder far more than it will help.

In reality Departures is a stinker of a film, a saccharine infested Oscar vehicle that smashed through the gates of the Academy and took what it came for. Any ideas given toward seeing a world in which conflicted characters overcome complicated…

Departures is a beautifully acted Japanese movie, which managed to utterly immerse me into the fascinating life of Daigo Kobayashi, a successful cellist, who suddenly finds that his orchestra is to be disbanded.

This life has been a safety net and the regular income vanishes leaving Daigo with no money to pay for the brand new cello he has just bought and is facing big debts. Daigo has to go home and explain this all to his wife Mika.

His confidence in playing or working with another orchestra is all but lost and Daigo decides to sell his instrument and try something else.

Such a touching portrayal of life and death. Unfortunately it is a movie that has been spoilt by my viewing conditions so I cannot rate it as highly as I think it probably deserves as I wasn't always concentrated. However, having said that I do think it is a poignant film and a deeply moving one at that. I could just feel it, even though I wasn't always mentally there!

My problem is that I have bought a new TV that has come with a technical issue that is frankly driving me bonkers! The thing is to most eyes it would be such a minor thing - which is probably why no word on the issue can be found online,…

Departures is the second movie in as many days to leave me on the verge of blubbering like a baby. I just can't handle this, I need to watch something manly. Damn you, Departures. Damn you for being so good.

Daigo, a Cello player, suddenly loses his job as the orchestra he plays in disbands. Returning home, he reluctantly accepts a job as an encoffiner, an act in which one prepares bodies of the deceased before they are placed in coffins. I had never heard of this practice before, so the whole process was at first a little strange but grew to be quite intriguing and by the end I fully understood why people would want to have it done.…

I really must not have been paying attention to the Oscars for the last half-decade or so, as I only recently discovered this movie existed, let alone won the Foreign Language award in 2008.

Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is a cellist who is forced to give up his dream of professional musicianship, and his expensive cello, when the orchestra he has recently joined folds. He moves back to his home town and the house left to him by his deceased mother, accompanied by his loyal wife. He answers a job advert in 'departures' and finds himself in the business of 'encoffining'; a traditional art of embalming performed inf front of the deceased's family during the funeral ceremony.

Departures is one of a kind. Amazing japanese theme with melancholy music and the stunning visuals, what a piece of art! the whole film's location is wonderful. Every actors are dedicated for their part. In the middle of the film there will be a moment where the protogonist have lunch with his boss, god what a moment that was, snowing outside(shown through window), they were eating in a room surrounded by plants. I was speechless! The season changes were potrayed beautifuly with christmas snow and cherry blossoms, god damn awesome. Of course the main theme of the movie that cherish and embrace the death that drives to find and realise ourselves. What a WONDERFUL film!

One of the best movies I have ever seen. The story, the cinematography, the acting - take your pick. In addition to the background score by Joe Hisaishi, who is as flawless as ever.

The movie makes you laugh as easily as it breaks your heart. You feel the struggles of Daigo who loses his job, struggles to find a new one, and you try to stomach your surprise and curiosity when he does.

Each character is eccentric and deep, and no matter how small a role, each remains a significant part of the whole. There is the spunky old lady who runs the local bath-house, the memories of a mother and faint recollections of a father, the struggle between…